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Wednesday, 16 January 2013

VOTE BOYCOTTERS ‘FACE TREASON CHARGE’

Opponents of Swaziland’s non-democratic national poll
this year could face a charge of treason and the death penalty, a senior
election official said.

Many prodemocracy groups and individuals are campaigning
for a boycott of the election because political parties are banned in the kingdom,
ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, and the parliament
has no real powers.

Mzwandile Fakudze, deputy chair of the Elections
Boundaries Commission (EBC), told the Swazi Observer, the newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati, those who seek to
stand in the way of elections, which is tantamount to treason, will face the
wrath of the law.

The newspaper quoted him saying, ‘Committing the offence
of treason entails when a person subverts or shows potential to subvert the
activities of the state even if it is without the use of arms, weapons or
military equipment.’

People convicted of treason in Swaziland face the death penalty.

He was supported by EBC chair Prince Gija who said those
who sought to sabotage the election would face the wrath of the law.

Fakudze said the betrayal of one’s own country by waging
war against it or by consciously opposing or purposely acting to aid its
enemies, amounted to the crime of treason.

The Observer defined
treason as ‘the violation by a subject of allegiance to the state’.

Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Principal
Secretary Thembinkosi Mamba told the newspaper in terms of the law, whoever
threatened to cause a disarray towards the state and where his / her intentions
caused one to believe that there would be such a disarray, they would have to
answer to the courts why they should not be charged with the crime of treason.

Swazi Police Deputy Public Relations Officer
Inspector Khulani Mamba said threats to the state were not taken lightly,
especially if such threats were of intent to sabotage national elections
because then it becomes the country’s security concern.

‘We will be watching closely at such purported actions
but will not divulge our reaction plan as it is a concern of security,’ he
said.